3D bioprinted scar tissue model

Abstract

A bioink composition and a 3D bioprinted scar tissue model with the bioink composition closely replicates the physiological and architectural characteristics of naturally occurring scar tissue. The 3D bioprinted scar tissue can be used to test scar resolution treatments among others. Also provided is a method of fabricating the 3D bioprinted scar tissue along with an apparatus for bioprinting the 3D bioprinted scar tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of fabricating a 3D-bioprinted in-vitro model of scar, the method comprising:
 3D bioprinting layer-by-layer of a bioink composition using a computer-assisted design model,
 wherein the bioink composition comprises at least one polypeptide selected from the group consisting of silk protein conjugate, collagens, gelatins, and combinations thereof, at least one cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TGF-β1, and combinations thereof, and at least one cell population that is a tissue specific fibroblast cells of the tissue selected from the group consisting of skin and corneal, 
 wherein the at least one polypeptide is at a concentration in the range of 5%-20% w/v, with respect to the bioink composition, and the at least one cell population is at the concentration in the range of 1×10 3 -1×10 7  cells/ml, and 
 wherein the 3D bioprinting is carried out at an extrusion pressure in the range of 1 PSI-40 PSI, at a temperature in the range of 20° C.-35° C., with a printer nozzle having a diameter in the range of 40 μm-260 μm. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A method of fabricating a 3D-bioprinted in-vitro model of scar of  claim 1 , wherein the layer has a thickness in the range of 10 μm-400 μm. 
     
     
       3. The method of fabricating a 3D-bioprinted in vitro model of scar of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cytokine is at a concentration in the range of 1 ng/ml-1 μg/ml, with respect to the composition. 
     
     
       4. The method of fabricating a 3D-bioprinted in vitro model of scar of  claim 1 , wherein the bioink composition further comprises at least one nutritional medium selected from the group consisting of DMEM, RPMI, α-MEM, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of fabricating a 3D-bioprinted in vitro model of scar of  claim 1 , wherein the bioink composition further comprises at least one enzyme selected from the group comprising tyrosinase, peroxidase, transglutaminase, cysteine protease, polyphenol oxidase, catechol oxidase, hexose oxidase, and combinations thereof.